The United States is a very large geographical space, which allows for many types of climates and flora and fauna. As a result, industries taking advantage of these bountiful resources are many. The U.S. logging and forestry industry is a large example, with over 10,000 companies employing over 80,000 employees as logging equipment operators, conservationists, fallers, scalers and others, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2006 survey. While many areas of the United States are under federal protection, logging in the United States is conducted in open forested areas and numerous tree farms across the country, with adequate supply of many different types of wood. As a result, the kinds of employees in the industry are varied.

Much of the logging industry is performed by workers in harsh outdoor environments, and the work is very demanding. Although workers have large construction machines to aid in the act of planting, organizing and harvesting trees, this work is performed year-round, and often in cold or hot outdoor environments. However, as with most industries, computers have played a big part in expanding technological possibilities for the industry and have lead to new types of conservation and harvesting work planned indoors in offices. Additionally, selling and distributing the wood to paper and furniture factories is done in office buildings, as well. However, the majority of logging jobs are done outdoors onsite.

Posted: 10 November 2010, last updated 15 March 2011

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